In This Section

Physician Assistant Program

Program Outcomes

PANCE Results

Here are the NCCPA first time pass rates on the PANCE (pdf) for the last five years. (if this doesn't open in separate window - check downloads). This is our most current results, including the results for the December 2017 graduates -100% pass rate.

Program Outcomes

The Harding University Physician Assistant Program seeks to develop Physician Assistants graduates who practice and live within a framework of a dependence upon their God and faith. The ability to measure that dependence is difficult quantitatively, but is more reflective in who they are as PAs and how they serve their patients and those around them. We continue to refine this measurement tool.

To measure the Program goals, alumni were surveyed. The results of the most recent survey are as follows:

Instruct physician assistants who will provide primary care reflective of their Christian faith and service to their community and to the world.

50% of respondents indicated working in a Primary care specialty (included in that were Family practice, Internal medicine, Pediatrics, and Urgent care).

38% of respondents indicated having practices located in inner cities, rural communities or small towns.

Develop practice oriented critical thinking which recognizes dependence on God, is committed to lifelong intellectual excellence, and is built upon a foundation of general cultural knowledge.

96.5% of respondents maintain NCCPA certification

59% of respondents maintain ACLS certification

73% of respondents maintain BLS certification

35% of respondents listed DEA certification

Promote supportive personal and professional relationships.

63% of respondents identified as members of AAPA

51% of respondents identified as members of their state organizations

Nurture lifelong personal habits that lead to a healthier quality of life physically, spiritually, psychologically and socially.

Emphasize a servant-leadership which prepares graduates to have a respect for other cultures and an understanding of world missions.

30% of respondents acknowledged direct involvement in missions

51% of respondents acknowledged leadership in church activities

18% of respondents acknowledged leadership in community organizations

Program Performance

Students accepted into program since inception in 2005 as of September 2015: 425

Attrition: 3.058%, 13 students

Graduates: 341 as of December 2017

Graduation rate: 97%

Job placement: March 2017

Three months post graduation, 79% of the graduates who are eligible to work have found job placements in a variety of medical fields.

Update: May 2017 - 100% of 2016 graduates now are working in variety of jobs as PAs.

The Program does not "place" graduates in a job. Graduates are free to accept a position in a specialty of their choice (although we hope in primary care) and in any area of the country. Some have job offers prior to graduation. Some wait until after they take the PANCE (and take a vacation, have their wedding or delivery a baby) to start job hunting. We provide our students with many job opportunities not only through their clinical rotations, but also through job postings sent directly to the Program and passed on to our students.